Precursa: The Startup Journey with Host Cynthia Del'Aria

Does it really take over 100 conversations in order to raise capital OR are there some secrets?

Host Cynthia Del’Aria talks with Nathan Beckord, the CEO of Foundersuite.com a venture-backed company that makes the leading “funding stack” that includes, investor database, CRM, pitch deck hosting, and Investor update tools for startups. On this episode. Nathan shares some insights from his entrepreneurial experience raising capital from investors, tips on whether to start bootstrapping and grow your business versus finding investors plus how entrepreneurs can know they're truly ready for an investor. Listen and enjoy!

Resources from this episode

How I Raised This podcast - https://blog.foundersuite.com/tag/how-i-raised-it-podcast/

Paul Graham essays - http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html

This Week in Startup Hosted by Jason Calacanis & Molly Wood - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-startups/id315114957

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today host Cynthia Del’Aria speaks with first time founder, Mark Van Holsbeck. Mark has played drums and performed with many bands, while also acquiring various skills in the IT profession with an impressive 42 year career. Combing these two skills, Mark has set to solve many common management issues that bands encounter and help fans of live cover music easily find a band that matches their musical tastes with his Jukebox Live App. Mark shares how Cynthia's advice impacted the development of his company and app plus some of his origin story which includes a pretty awesome connection to the infamous group Van Halen. Click, listen and enjoy!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Resources from this Episode

Ridiculous Crime Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ridiculous-crime/id1608230191

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode layered with stories of tolerance, perseverance, pain, and tons of humor, host Cynthia Del’Aria speaks with Dr. Jack Nguyen, researcher, licensed dentist and founder of The Quick Company. Dr. Jack packed several boxes during the housing crash and moved to Denver, Colorado to start his career in dentistry leading to successful exit in 2020. He shares stories on how his tolerance for pain as an entrepreneur and as a dentist inspired his patent pending invention while also sharing some insights on the patent process. Listen now!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Resources from Jack Nguyen

Patents Integrated Podcast - Novel & Non Obvious

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/novel-non-obvious/id1560386030 

Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital By Carlita Perez

https://carlotaperez.org/publications/#Technological-Revolutions-and-Financial-Capital-The-Dynamics-of-Bubbles-and-Golden-Ages

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Upward-Spirituality-Halves-Life/dp/0470907754

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're an entrepreneurs AND a parent then listen up, this episode is especially for you! In this episode host, Cynthia Del’Aria talks with Andy Zurcher, co-founder and CEO of Kidiosity. Andy has over 20 years experience as an early-stage executive. He led product, design, and engagement at HomeAdvisor (now Angi) as it grew from pre-revenue to over $200M and acquisition by IAC. In this episode, he speaks about finding balance between the grittiness of growing a startup along and the patience that is needed especially while raising kids Andy talks about why him and his partner started Kidiosity to strengthen families and help today's busy parents spend more intentional, quality time with their children.

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Connect & follow Andy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykiefernyc/

Kidiosity - https://kidiosity.com/

Email: Andy@kidiosity.com

Check out Andy Zurcher's recommended resources:

The Lean Startup Book- http://theleanstartup.com/book

How I Built This Podcast - https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Integrity for the Greater Good

If you're a woman, raising capital, it can be especially TOUGH! On this episode Cynthia speaks with one of her favorite humans, Kelly Kiefer, who is currently engaged, as a strategic advisor, with multiple organizations including Principal at R.S.I.F. Advisors. Kelly known for her strategic thinking with diverse experience holding various C-suite roles in multiple industries including impact investing, risk mitigation and art. On this episode we dive into the importance of integrity in business and how it defines your true success. Kelly shares her advice for women struggling raising capital during a looming recession, the current and possible ripple effects plus lessons to learn from her impactful career like how to keep your entrepreneur intuition clear, you know what to do next! Go Listen now!

Listen On: Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Find & follow Kelly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykiefernyc/

Kelly Kiefer's website - https://kellykiefer.com/

R.I.S.F. Advisors - https://www.rsifadvisors.com/

Check out Kelly Kiefer's recommended resources:

Blue Ocean Strategy - https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ocean-Strategy-Expanded-Uncontested/dp/1625274491/ref=asc_df_1625274491/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111907622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6895657269969883571&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028731&hvtargid=pla-318700082110&psc=1

The E-Myth Revisited - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=asc_df_0887307280/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312106851030&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12923508299727639939&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028731&hvtargid=pla-361791162205&psc=1

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology has huge and far-reaching impacts on just about every facet of our world. Perhaps one of the least understood impacts it can have is in agriculture, crop production, and the associated economies that depend on agriculture. (Like, ALL of us!) In this episode, co-founder of Benchmark Labs Dr Carlos Gaitan spends time with us to talk about building an AgTech company with meaningful impacts to farmers and consumers, and demystifies AI and Machine Learning in a way that will make you feel smarter. Listen now!

Check out Dr Carlos’ recommended resources:

 “Rotten” – Netflix documentary about avocado water needs (https://www.netflix.com/title/80146284)

“Machine Learning Methods in the Environmental Sciences” – William W. Hsieh (https://ur.booksc.me/book/70339637/b00774)

“Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist” – Brad Feld, Jason Mendelson (https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Deals-Smarter-Lawyer-Capitalist/dp/1118443616)

Find and follow Dr Carlos on Benchmark Labs (https://www.benchmarklabs.com/) or send him an email at carlos@benchmarklabs.com

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wondered what it looks like to take a common, seemingly everyday item and turn it into a media empire? Monica Michelle, founder of BloomTV, is my guest today, and she’s turned all things floral into a TV network that’s sure to put you into your zen-est of spaces. We talk about what it’s like to build a media company, the transition from baking with flowers to producing shows about them, and how walking away from a deal with Whole Foods was the pivot of a lifetime. Listen now!

Find and follow Monica on BloomTV (https://bloomtvnetwork.com) or send her an email (and your ideas for BloomTV!) at monica@bloomtvnetwork.com. 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey hey hey, the gang’s all here! Back again for another wisdom-packed episode, Precursa’s co-founders Paige Goss, Sarah Jolly, and Cynthia Del’Aria dive into what is good advice, what’s bad advice, how do you know the difference, and how do you find good mentors and advisors. And are all incubator and accelerator programs created equal? How about everyone who sits on a panel or has a seat of “authority”? In this episode, you’ll find out who is worth your precious time to help you build your company and how to find them. We also bust a couple of “overnight success” myths and give you some good advice on finding good advice. Listen now!

Check out the company we talked about in the episode, Wander+Ivy. (https://wanderandivy.com/)

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, we get to talk to first-time founder Gary Tong, who is a dentist by trade and an aspiring entrepreneur by choice. Our conversation ranges from whether the entrepreneurial spirit is generational or not, to how to find a painful problem to solve as an entrepreneur, to whether an introvert can be a successful entrepreneur. If you’re waffling and wondering what taking the plunge looks like in its infancy, then Gary’s your guy. Listen now!

Check out Gary’s recommended resources:

The Pitch podcast, by Gimlet Media (https://gimletmedia.com/shows/the-pitch)

Xbox documentary on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJYsA1jXf60&list=PL0il2l-B_WwadxfTkK3-NLoYNcQEHdBGO)

Mixergy podcast (https://mixergy.com/)

Masters of Scale podcast (https://mastersofscale.com/)

Y-Combinator on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/ycombinator)

And Gary recommends searching YouTube for demo days or pitch days and watching some folks handle all the things real-time.

Find and follow Gary on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-tong-63a14985/) or through us at Precursa (startup@precursa.com). 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to be an intentional entrepreneur, instead of an accidental one? And is there value in partnership vs going it alone? In today’s episode, guest Deb Chromik shares her wisdom on when (and how) to partner successfully, how to figure out what you really want to do with your life (and your business), and the importance of knowing yourself and listening to your audience when building something new. Plus, we hear a new strategy that just might change your fundraising journey for the better… Listen now!

Check out Deb’s recommended resources:

“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks (https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361)

Undercover Billionaire (https://www.discovery.com/shows/undercover-billionaire)

“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek (https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447)

“The Art of the Start” by Guy Kawasaki (https://www.amazon.com/Art-Start-Time-Tested-Battle-Hardened-Starting/dp/1591840562)

“Do More Faster” by Brad Feld and David Cohen (https://www.amazon.com/Do-More-Faster-TechStars-Accelerate/dp/0470929839)

“Shark Tales” by Barbara Corcoran (https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Tales-Turned-Billion-Business/dp/1591844185)

Find and follow Deb on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debchromik/) or through us at Precursa (startup@precursa.com). 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we reveal the shift that Precursa has taken, and we hear how CEO and co-founder Cynthia Del’Aria got to this point where the ultimate decision (to take a “pause”) was made. She shares the realities of making tough decisions, what the conversation with the team sounded like, where we go from here, and what it all means for Precursa.

Cynthia also talks about how (and when!) the culture in a company actually gets built. (Spoiler alert: It’s NOT when you’ve got thousands of employees and it becomes “trendy”!) She also talks about how a company culture gets built whether you’re being intentional about it or not and encourages us to choose intentionality. Cynthia also challenges some startup myths and the status quo for founders and (gasp!) talks about taking a weekend off.

If you’ve gotten caught up in the “startup-y things” you think you’re “supposed to do” to succeed, then this episode is for you and will help set you back on your own straight and narrow path.

PS – We’re going to a bi-weekly format starting in April of 2022… Same great content and guests, just every other week. And we hope to be back to weekly soon!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we are joined by William Loopesko, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of CleanTech company Aclymate, which is helping small businesses offset their footprint to be carbon neutral. William is no stranger to the entrepreneurial journey, and he walks us through the trials of a failure, the triumphs of a comeback, and the extreme difference a co-founder can make through all of it. Listen now!

Check out William’s recommended resources:

Get involved! Your local startup community in the town or city you live in is the #1 best way to get your frame of mind set for being a startup founder. In Denver (and maybe near you!), some of these types of opportunities are:

1 Million Cups (https://www.1millioncups.com/)

Denver Boulder New Tech (https://www.meetup.com/bdnewtech/)

Denver Founders (https://www.meetup.com/Denver-Founders-Network/)

Denver Startup Week (https://www.denverstartupweek.org/)

“The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries (https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898)

“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz (https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205)

Work on Climate Slack Community (https://workonclimate.org/)

For the postmortem episode of Incubate This! (https://www.raikatech.com/incubatethis) on William’s first startup, PuppTech, listen here (https://www.raikatech.com/incubatethis/2021/3/15/podcast-a-real-tech-startup-postmortem-and-lessons-learned-pupptech).

Find and follow William on Aclymate (https://aclymate.com/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-loopesko/), or through us at Precursa (startup@precursa.com). 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maybe you’ve felt it: that feeling of fear or dread when you realize that something you’ve worked hard on might be slipping from your grasp; or worse, has been taken from you in broad daylight. In this episode, we talk about our recent experience with a fellow entrepreneur encroaching on Precursa’s land, how we responded, and what’s next for our journey. If you’ve wondered how strongly we feel about the advice and teaching we give, this episode is where the rubber meets the road.

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we go where few men and women have gone before, and talk about the future of gig economy work… in space! We are joined by Tom Cooke, founder of Spacely, the open-talent marketplace platform designed for anyone who wants to leverage their talents for the future of space. Tom started as career military flying planes in the Air Force, and then transitioning to space engineering. He then watched the entrepreneurial journey play out real time as he helped his wife build her kickboxing studio in Denver and caught the bug himself a few short years later. Now his vision is to connect people with opportunities and help anyone who loves space use their talents to advance humanity’s race to the heavens.

Tom talks about how he came up with Spacely and gives us some tips about how to find a cool idea if you want to become an entrepreneur. (Hint: Do what you know!) He also debunks some myths about the gig economy, what objections he hears from companies about working with contractors versus full-timers, and how he answers those objections to everyone’s benefit. Tom also shares his views on the theory that entrepreneurship requires everything you have to give and then some, and he gives us all hope that having a life while being an entrepreneur is not only possible, but it’s how things are supposed to be.

We then dive into a question that Tom has found himself asking a ton lately: do platforms need people or do people need platforms? And how do you strike the balance between people and platforms that accomplishes everyone’s goals and raises everyone’s boats? Tom talks about how the pace of technological change is the motivator for historically staid economies to continue to promote new ways of accomplishing the work we all want to get done.

He loves space (and wants to go there someday!), but Tom is anything but spacey. He’s funny, insightful, and has a ton of ideas that will have your head in the clouds.

Check out Tom’s recommended resources:

“The Ivy Podcast” (https://ivypodcast.com/)

Jon Younger’s articles on “freelancers” for Forbes (https://www.google.com/search?q=jon+younger+forbes+freelancer&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYp6XSqpL2AhWZHTQIHduwCJcQBSgAegQIARAy&biw=1587&bih=1209&dpr=1)

Get involved with Tom and start your own space race at Spacely.work (https://www.spacely.work/).

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with Precursa co-founder and CEO of Point Solutions Group Paige Goss, our favorite business development guru and strategic spark plug. Our conversation ranges from the realities of being an entrepreneur, to what early-stage investors are looking for in a startup, to what really creates change and diversity in a company culture. And Paige shows us it’s possible to move halfway across the country, have twins, and start a business… in just 43 days! Good things come in small packages, and Paige is proof… Listen now!

Check out Paige’s recommended resources:

“The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership” by Jim Dethmer (https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE)

Follow Paige through Point Solutions Group (https://pointsolutionsus.com/), on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigegoss/), or by email at paige@pointsolutionsus.com. 

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we are going deep into the balance (and seeming contradiction) between confidence as an entrepreneur and humility in listening to your customer, your market, and new data. Our founder, Cynthia Del’Aria, starts out by reminding us that building fast is not nearly as good as building right, and how important first impressions really are with your users. 

Then she gets into one of our favorite statistics here at Precursa, and one that you’ve heard us talk about many, many times: 9 out of 10 venture capital backed startups ultimately fail… But what if that statistic is changing? And what if we ignored the fact that more and more investors, and people we respect greatly in the investor community, are starting to push back and call BS on the stat? We explore whether there may be a true disconnect between the published, accepted “fact” and what the people involved are experiencing.

Cynthia also shares how this is a direct example of what Jim Collins is talking about in his book “Good to Great” (https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996), when encouraging founders and executives to confront the brutal facts and to understand data you can’t ignore… And what happens if you ignore it anyway? This episode will help you look at listening to your market and your customer in new and different ways, without checking your brain (or your gut!) at the door.

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone likes to talk about scale and growth, but few people have dialed in the skill the way our guest on this episode has. Mary Grothe, founder of House of Revenue and host of Revenue Radio, joins us today to talk about how to build a winning go-to-market strategy, what it really takes to scale and grow your company, and the impact of the pandemic on practically every market in the world (and what to do about it). She’s brilliant, passionate, and can sell like no one we’ve ever met… This one’s a real treat!

Get in touch with Mary via email at info@houseofrevenue.com or follow her and connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygrothe/).

Check out Mary’s recommended resources:

Revenue Radio, with host Mary Grothe (https://www.houseofrevenue.com/house-of-revenue-radio)

“The Science of Scaling” by Mark Roberge (https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/6575667/Stage%202s%20Science%20of%20Scaling.pdf?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8GRM1P_4jxvl56RlhGx4XT3E-6L0N4C3vUjPDL9SCEKLRp9qpcqdXALFm_bvrySZGfPKpKtrcQMc4NWkltwN3lV0mtr0u06SLIPLMn6KGn39CT1IY&_hsmi=86037264&utm_content=86037264&utm_medium=email&utm_source=hs_automation)

All things John Maxwell (https://www.johnmaxwell.com/)

“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz (https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205)

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is chock FULL of nuggets and pearls of wisdom that will absolutely blow your socks off. We are joined by Charles Fred, co-founder of TrueSpace, researcher extraordinaire, and serial entrepreneur, who has delved deep into the pitfalls, mistakes, and realities of entrepreneurs and investors through a research partnership with Gallup. TrueSpace is his latest venture, working with companies to grow into the middle-market space and hit the $10M mark, and the insights he has from his work and his research are invaluable to founders of companies that want to scale and grow their companies.

Our conversation with Charles starts out with how much the job-creation pool has changed in the last 4 decades, from “big business” being responsible for most job creation in the ‘80s, to entrepreneurs creating 7 out of 10 jobs today. We go deep into the types of customers in any business (spoiler alert: there are only 2 and they have very different impacts on your business), the distinction between capacity and capability, and the difference between an entrepreneur and an employee. 

Charles also lays out the statistics around getting to $10M in annual revenue, how long it takes on average and how many companies make it there. You’ll want to brace yourself, because the reality is shocking. Charles shares why he believes CRMs are making entrepreneurs dumber and worse at their jobs, and he talks about how you’re probably spending your time as a CEO (and why it’s actually hurting your business in ways you don’t even realize). He also offers advice and insight for entrepreneurs looking for investors and investors looking for better, more predictable returns from their portfolio companies.

There’s a ton of data, insight, and wisdom in this episode that will have you thinking hard about your priorities in your company, and if applied with smarts and intentionality, can have you back on a growth path in no time! 

Get in touch with Charles via email at cfred@truespace.com and get more support and insight at TrueSpace (https://www.truespace.com).

Check out Charles’s recommended resources:

“Limits to Growth” by Donnella H. Meadows (https://www.amazon.com/Limits-Growth-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/193149858X)

“The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek (https://simonsinek.com/the-infinite-game)

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman (https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555)

“The Black Swan” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (https://www.amazon.com/Black-Swan-Improbable-Robustness-Fragility/dp/081297381X)

(ADD: research materials from TrueSpace)

And remember: There’s no breaks as an entrepreneur, so always be learning!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we are joined by media darling and serial entrepreneur Melinda Wittstock, founder of Podopolo, a platform that makes listening social and podcasting profitable for creators. Our conversation with Melinda ranges from the power of niching down and letting go of the “perfect” MVP, to the challenges women face in entrepreneurship and fundraising, to entrepreneurship as a form of therapy. Melinda has a wealth of knowledge to draw from and she shares her incredible journey in a way that will inspire and encourage the newest newbie and the most seasoned entrepreneur..

Find Melinda on Podopolo,

Twitter @podopolonetwork https://mobile.twitter.com/podopolonetwork

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/podopolo/?hl=en @podopolo).

Check out Melinda’s recommended resources:

“Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters (https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Fuel-Essential-Combination-Business/dp/1942952317)

Wings of Inspired Business podcast (https://melindawittstock.com/wingspodcast/)

“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks (https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361)

“The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber (https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280)

Jim Collins, author (https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html)

“The Surrender Experiment” by Michael A. Singer (https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X)

And remember to find a meditation or prayer practice to get in tune with your intuition and maximize your flow potential!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is unique and filled with inspiration as we sit down with Devon Kerns, visionary, coach, and facilitator of transformation. Devon shares his story of becoming an entrepreneur, learning hard lessons about creation early on, and how he’s turned everything that came before into an opportunity to support other entrepreneurs and shift conversations in the world of business. You don’t want to miss this one, as it’s packed to the gills with pearls of wisdom that just might change your life.

Get in touch with Devon at Night Owl Partners (https://www.nightowlpartners.com/).

In true Devon-form, in lieu of resources and input, he encourages us to stop filling our heads with other people’s stuff! He suggests being still and letting the universe speak to you and work through you.

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Precursa: The Startup Journey on your favorite podcasting platform and tune in for the next episode! 

Email us with any questions or comments (startup@precursa.com). Check out our website (https://www.precursa.com) for more information on getting your startup rolling. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.